Desert Hot Springs students get hands-on look at aviation careers
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)- Desert Hot Springs High School students got a firsthand look at aviation careers Wednesday through a program with Palm Springs Unified School District and the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Nine students are taking part in the aviation and aeronautics career exploration program. Five took part in discovery flights Wednesday, riding with a pilot and getting a closer look at how an aircraft operates.
For student Arleth Velazquez, the experience marked her first time on a plane. She said aviation had already been in the back of her mind, and the program has introduced her to career options she had not considered before.
Students are learning that aviation careers go beyond becoming a pilot. The program also introduces jobs in air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, machining and other parts of the industry.
During Wednesday’s flights, students heard communications between the aircraft and the control tower, learned about weather information and saw how the aircraft’s controls work.
Flight Operations Volunteer Dirk Ellis said students are able to get a basic introduction to the controls and see what happens during a flight from takeoff to landing.
The goal is to give students a chance to experience aviation firsthand and decide whether it is a field they may want to continue exploring.
Four more Desert Hot Springs High School students are expected to take part in discovery flights next Wednesday. The program is also being offered to students from other Palm Springs Unified high schools this year.
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